1996/1997 Season Round 08 Results written by Thomas Esamie
Played (29/11/1996) Somers Street Stadium Referee : C Diomis, Crowd : 2794
Melbourne Knights Joe Didulica, David Cervinski, Zoran Markovski, Andrew Marth, Joe Simunic, Lubomir Lapsansky (Ante Kovacevic 74), Ice Kutlesovski, Mijo Trupkovic (John Markovski 75), Tom Pondeljak, Ivan Duzel (Damian Vojtek 80), Ransford Banini Goals : Simunic 46, Kutlesovski 62	2	-	0	Newcastle Breakers Liam Baker, Glen Sprod (Matt Austin 80), Glen Moore, Peter Ritchie (Shane Pryce 76), Robert Ironside, Clayton Zane, Troy Halpin (sent off 89), Harry James, Todd McManus, Mark Wilson (Scott Thomas 70), Craig Sharpley
The Knights seem to be scoring a little more regularly than they did early in the season and a precise Simunic free kick (rather than a blast from Marth, who earlier hit the post and came close to breaking it) from just outside the penalty area gave them a lead and a full length diving header from the 'Iceman' doubled it and the stand-in Knights keeper was decidedly bored.
Played (30/11/1996) Bruce Stadium Referee : W Dade, Crowd : 3500
Canberra Cosmos Danny Milosevic, Paul Dee, David Milin, Richard Watson, Michael Garcia, Norman Kelly, Lachlan Armstrong, Peter Buljan, John Koch, Peter Mazis (Steve Lazzari 67), George Sorras Goal : Dee 23	1	-	3	Sydney United Zeljko Kalac, Robert Trajkovski, Velimir Kupresak, Mark Babic (Damir Cvetko 46), Robert Enes (sent off 72), Kresimir Marusic, Ante Moric (Richard Plesa 74), Ante Milicic (Joe Vrkic 82), David Zdrilic, Paul Bilokapic, Mark Rudan Goals : Milicic 34, Rudan 57, Zdrilic 82
Michael Garcia gave Paul Dee the chance to take a lead for Canberra in this game, but it only served to make Sydney mad. Marusic shot at goal, caught a Canberra defender and the ball rolled into the path of a charging Milicic to level the score and a header from Rudan in a crowded 6yard box made it 2. Kalac showed some hot-headedness when he tried to pluck the head from the Cosmos #9's shoulders after both contested a high ball and collided. Then despite Enes' second yellow card United got an insurance goal when Zdrilic dribbled past everyone on the pitch at least twice and then backheeled the ball into the net. I hate smartarses.
Played (30/11/1996) Marconi Stadium Referee : B Hugo, Crowd : 4972
Marconi-Fairfield Bob Catlin, Luke Casserly, Dominic Longo, Paul Souris, Matthew Bingley, Brendan Renaud, Craig Foster, Andrew Ravanello, Vlado Zoric (Eric Hristodolou 86), Andrew Harper, Francis Awaritefe (Robert Stanton 74)	0	-	1	South Melbourne Michael Petkovic, Steve Panopoulos, Nick Orlic, Con Blatsis, Alex Kuzmanovic, Fausto De Amicis, Bill Damianos, David Clarkson, Vaughan Coveny, Paul Trimboli, Warren Spink (Michael Curcija 85) Goal : Trimboli 87
Marconi just have no luck these days. They created enough chances and Andrew Harper added to his post-hitting tally for the season but it was the visitors who came away with 3 points thanks to the inspired addition of Curcija late in the game. He combined with Bill Damianos to put the ball at Trimboli's feet who scored easily.
Played (1/12/1996) Perth Oval Referee : E Lennie, Crowd : 9765
Perth Glory Tom Maras, Craig Naven, Gavin Wilkinson, Vinko Buljubasic, Gareth Naven, Scott Miller, Paul McVittie, Slobodan Despotovski, Vasili Kalogeracos (Vladimir Beretovac 76), Dale Wingell, Paul Strudwick Goals : Wilkinson 84, Despotovski 90	2	-	1	Adelaide City Jason Petkovic, Bradley Armour, Milan Ivanovic, Alex Tobin, Angelo Costanzo, Bradley Hassell (Michael Brooks 26), Dino Mennillo, John Gibson, Michael Musitano, Mark Brazzale, Kosta Salapasidis (Mark Yates 82) Goal : Tobin 38
Alex Tobin got a rare non-pk goal when he headed in a corner but the large home crowd would not be denied and Wilkinson equalised in similar fashion. Then in the last seconds of the game a slip from an Adelaide defender left Despotovski lonely in front of goal and he cooly chipped the ball over Petkovic who tried to dive at the strikers feet. The crowd went ballistic, I wish I had been there. There was a brief pitch invasion.
Played (1/12/1996) Victoria Park Referee : E Brazzale, Crowd : 3110
Collingwood Warriors Frank Juric, Dean Fak, George Jolevski, Alan Scott, Enrico Ceracchio, Carlo Talladira, Andrew Vlahos (Con Boutsianis 73), Mark Silic, Ernie Tapai, Kimon Taliadoros, Brian MacNicol	0	-	1	Gippsland Falcons Jim Kourtis, Doug Marcina (Levent Osman 56), Marcus Stergioupoulos, Steve Mangos, Nick Palamaras, Hugo Giminez (Billy Wright 75), Mark Foy, Eddie Krncevic (Joe Tricarico 72), Alex Duric, Clayton Bell, William Hastie Goal : Krncevic 13
Forget the players, this was Zoran Matic v Frank Arok and Frank Arok came onto the field, entered the body and soul of Krncevic and scored after a bit of a scramble in front of goal.
Played (1/12/1996) Belmore Oval Referee : S Micallef, Crowd : 6222
UTS Olympic Tony Franken, David Barrett, Scott Baillie, Milan Blagojevic, Adam Ciantar, Brett Emerton (Ralph Bove 67), Walter Ardone (Nick Meredith 84) Peter Tsekenis, Norman Tome (Elias Augerinos 74), Kris Trajanovski, Abbas Saad Goal : Tome 44	1	-	1	Wollongong City Brett Hughes, Gary van Egmond, Alvin Ceccoli (sent off 89), Jason Connolly, Sonny Sevin, Matthew Horsley, Martin Bourke (Richard Lloyd 72), Neil Harlock, Lujpco Naumovski (Scott Chipperfield 68), Tony Perinich (Nick Joseski 67), Michael Reda Goal : Connelly 44
Wollongong continue their run of good results with a creditable draw away to UTS. Brett Hughes palmed away a great Saad header and UTS generally had more of the attack but it was Wolves who scored after a Sevin ball over the UTS defence was chased down by Matt Horsley and put on a plate for Connolly to score. Before anyone got settled in their seats UTS were level again when Abbas Saad did much like Horsley and Tome headed home the cross. UTS missed a couple (and Hughes saved the rest) and all that happened was Ceccoli got to the showers first thanks to a second yellow card.
Played (1/12/1996) Hindmarsh Stadium Referee : G Connolly, Crowd : 3977
West Adelaide Nathan Wildy, Hamilton Thorp, Jamie Perin, Robert Slager, Robert Hooker, Alex Castro, Branko Milosevic (Richie Alagich 53), Con Kokkinoplitis, Nathan Day, Andrew Borghetto, Jim Tsekinis	0	-	0	Brisbane Strikers Clint Bolton, Matt Bell, Alan Hunter, Frank Farina, Sean Cranney, Rod Brown (Wayne Knipe 73), Danny Wright, Troy Cranney, Mark Battistin (Brad Ditton 45), Andrew Brayshaw (Vedran Becirbegovic 55), Kasey Wehrman
West Adelaide had an oppertunity to win this one, but you could argue that Brisbane did too. Overall a disappointing game and it cost the Strikers leadership of the ladder.